Module 1, Session 1.3. Learning Objectives Participants will: Have an appreciation of key concepts and principles relating to political decentralisation,

Political Decentralisation Local Governance

Domestic Accountability

Module 1, Session 1.3

Learning Objectives

Participants will:Have an appreciation of key concepts and

principles relating to political decentralisation, local governance and domestic accountability

Be familiar with the functions and services that devolved local governments are typically responsible for

Understand the different ways devolved local government can be held to account

Have identified approaches available to and challenges faced by development partners in promoting domestic accountability in a decentralising context

Reminder !

This session serves as no more than an introduction to a complex topic

Principle of “good fit” rather than “best practice” should be observed

Decentralisation, local governance and domestic accountability is a work in progress

Structure of Session

Presentation in 4 parts:

Part 1: Introduction and warm upPart 2: Defining TermsPart 3: Domestic Accountability in

Decentralized ContextsPart 4: Summing Up

A Quick Warm Up

How many of you know what social services your local municipality / council is responsible for delivering ?

Do you know what % of your municipality / council budget is locally generated rather than provided for by Central Government ?

Besides voting in local elections, how else do you hold your local government to account ?

Part 1: Defining Terms

Political DecentralisationLocal Governance

Domestic Accountability

Political Decentralisatio

n

Domestic Accountabili

ty

Local Governance

What is Political Decentralisation?

Also referred to as “Devolution“....going well beyond concept of “deconcentration“

Some defining features:A process through which political powers/ authority

are transferred to sub-national levels of government, enshrined in laws/ constitution

Establishment of a democratically elected local government (i) executive positions eg mayors, (ii) representative positions eg local councillor, (iii) single function eg water board

Granting of autonomy/ discretion to programme and spend own resources, (within framework of national laws, policies, standards)

Political Decentralisation

Existence of bodies separated by law with from

centre

Adapting public institutions to

decentralised context

Organisation downward accountability

A well-developed and inclusive local political process (participation)

Free and fair elections

Devolution of power to local

governments Local autonomy to programme and

spend (own) resources

It is only meaningful in context of:

Fiscal and administrative decentralisation providing discretion over management of financial and human resources

Commitment to democratisation: free & fair elections

Broader state reforms: reconfiguration roles and relationships

In reality, different combinations and levels of political,

administrative and fiscal decentralisation withImplications for:

real level of devolved authorityability to exercise it what it can be held accountable for

Proponents of political decentralisation claim:

Greater responsiveness to local needs and priorities

Greater accountability to local constituentsBetter opportunities for marginalised to have

“voice”Facilitates more active citizenship and

promotes democratic ownershipEnables local inputs into national processesFacilitates horizontal/ area-based planning

Why Political Decentralisation?

Beyond the institution of local government

A multi-actor perspective that emphasises the relationship between local government, civil society and the community at large, as engaged actors

Premised on notions of:Responsive and accountable local governmentcivil society participation in policy processopportunities for local revenue generation and

taxation giving local people a voice in deciding on local

policies, determining the use of resources and ensuring the delivery of public services

What is Local Governance ?

Local Governance

Responsive andaccountable

local governments

Institutional and organisational set-up for

local governance process

Existence and quality of

accountability mechanisms

Mechanisms for exchange of information and dialogue

Improvement local finances

(including citizen’s willingness to pay

taxes

Empowerment civil society (dialogue

partners and ‘watchdog’

Domestic Accountability

Is concerned with the different ways state institutions are held to account by their principals (Citizens and their representatives)

Involves multiple channels typically divided between vertical (answerability of state to citizens) and horizontal (checks and balances between state institutions at all levels) mechanisms

There are many different combinations of institutions and mechanisms to assure domestic accountability in decentralising context

Three underpinning principles:

Transparency: access to information about commitments the state has made and the extent to which these commitments have been honoured

Answerability: obligation of the government, its agencies and public officials to provide information about their decisions and actions and to justify them to the public and institutions tasked with providing oversight

Enforcement: willingness and power of citizens or the institutions that are responsible for accountability to sanction the offending party or remedy the contravening behaviour

RemarksAccountability in decentralized or decentralizing

political systems is Complex

Part 2: Domestic Accountability in Decentralised contexts

Social servicesPhysical planning & Infrastructure

Byelaw enforcement

Domestic accountability: For what?Local government can be reasonably held

accountable for:

Basic service delivery (on behalf of CG); Implementation of own projects &programmes

(own revenues):Local economic development:Bye law enforcement, licensing and related

regulatory responsibilities; Preparation of local development plans and

budgets; Resource mobilisation: Physical planning, land servicing and land

allocation: Other…

Constraints

Limited fiscal decentralisationLimited administrative decentralisationPlanning and CoordinationLate disbursements of fundsProcurement delaysPolitical interference and legitimacy

Three Main Lines of Accountability:

Between local and central governmentAcross local government

(administrative and political) Between local government and citizens

Domestic Accountability and the accountability chain

Central Govt

LG execut

council Civil service Civil Service Deconcentrated

Citizens, electorate, users, taxpayers…

Control & downward

accountability

Upwards (political) accountability

Quality of political, legal and fiscal adjustments

Management capacity of accountability mechanisms

Quality of policies, decision making processes, management and governance

Quality of general administration

Quality of provided services

Between Local and Central Government

Involves:- Compliance with standards, rules and

regulations

- Performance monitoring and reporting

Sector service delivery standards Public Financial Management rules

&regulations, including AuditHuman Resources Management rules &

regulationsNational Planning, budgeting, M&E “Parent” ministry (Ministry of Local

Government)

Between Local and Central Government

Local Authorities

Cabinet

Ministries

Parliament

Supreme Auditor

Institutions

And Holding Central Government to Account ? Decentralisation expands lines of

accountabilityLG in a crucial position: held and holding CG

to AccountKind of mutual accountability is established

- What mechanisms are in place to sanction?- What Role of Associations- The Role of District Commissioner, Prefet,

governor- Informal local institutions: Chieftaincy,

community and religious leaders

Across Local Government

Influenced by Executive Model and status of elected officials

Elected Officials hold administration to account

Administrator (chief executive) holding line departments to account;

Mutual Accountability through” joint action”

Local Government Associations

Across Local Government

Insert chart showing horizontal accountabilities

Between Local Government and Citizens

Ballot Box/ local Elections

Transparency through information sharing

Direct participation

Social Accountability and watchdog function

Multi-stakeholder dialogue/monitoring/ consultative bodies

Participation in local planning & budgeting

Between Local Government and Citizens

Local Authoriti

es

NSAs

Media

Political

Parties

Citizens

Traditional

leaders?

Challenges in supporting DA in Decentralised contextContext Matters

Hybrid nature of political systems of developing countries Importance of informal institutions and their impact on

domestic accountability systems

The possible impact of donors’ support: Lines of accountability may change: new bilateral lines with

LG, parallel lines to CG Power relations CG-LG and among LG may change shift of

political balance Strengthening Horizontal but weakening Downward

accountability Excessive upward accountability and skewed towards to

donors-> An analysis of the impact of decentralisation on DA

needs to take account of these informal aspects of governance by looking at the Political economy of a country (Module XX)

Discussion